Top 10 Aces Of K-Pop In 2021

Welcome to Kpopmap's 2021 K-Pop and K-Drama Highlights where we look back at the year in review and bring you the best of 2021, in one place. Without a doubt, 2021 has been one of the biggest years in K-Pop with artists making bigger strides than ever, both in terms of influence as well as their artistic range. 

When an artist is considered an ace, they're understood to be an all-rounder: experts in not only their own field but also in others. Here are the top 10 aces of K-Pop from 2021!

 

1. BTS' JungKook and ASTRO's Cha EunWoo (Tied)

Idol, producer, fashion icon, and a figure of political prominence as South Korea's special presidential envoy for future generations and culture, BTS member JungKook is a force to be reckoned with and in 2021, he shined even brighter as a true ace of the K-Pop industry. 

From music to acting, fashion, and more, Cha EunWoo dominated the entertainment industry and made 2021 his year. 2022 is also set to be an incredible year for him, especially with all the amazing projects Cha EunWoo has coming up.

 

2. SHINee's Key

"Bad Love", in Key's own words, is the album version of Key. He was completely in control of the entire artistic process and he made sure that his vision came through. To create such a masterpiece singlehandedly is nothing short of a display of creative genius and for this reason (besides several others), he is an absolute ace. 

 

3. SEVENTEEN's SeungKwan and (G)-IDLE's SoYeon (Tied)

SeungKwan has never stopped being an ace ever since he debuted. Singer, songwriter, entertainer, and idol: SeungKwan was, is, and will always be an all-rounder. 

SoYeon showed outstanding potential and talent in 2021 with her first solo EP "Windy", which is perfectly representative of her unique perspective on music and also reflects her artistic alter-ego. If this is her first, we cannot imagine how grand her musical future will be.

 

4. EXO's Xiumin and MAMAMOO's WheeIn (Tied)

Fresh off the military, Xiumin was all set to reclaim his throne as the ultimate ace of K-Pop in 2021 and he sure delivered on that front. From TV shows to theatre and promotions with EXO, Xiumin was truly a shining star in the industry this year. 

WheeIn soared as a fully realized artist in 2021 with her debut EP "Redd" making waves on charts and fans' hearts alike. It was also this year that WheeIn took a big step towards her future as an artist by signing with THE L1VE. We cannot wait to see what WheeIn has in store for us in the future!

 

5. SF9's Yoo TaeYang and Stray Kids' Han

From showcasing his brilliance on "KINGDOM: LEGENDARY WAR" to actively participating in the production of SF9's 9th and 10th EPs and even performing solo in the "HeeNoAeRak" dance concert, Yoo TaeYang was one of the most prominent presences in the K-Pop industry this year. 

Writing and composing music to rapping and belting the most stable vocals, there's nothing Han cannot do and with perfection, at that. This year too, Han was an undisputed ace in K-Pop, excelling in more fields than we could ever imagine.

 

6. BLACKPINK's Rosé

BLACKPINK's Rosé made a soulful solo debut in 2021 with songs that she co-wrote and composed herself. The fact that it is a personal piece of art amplifies its impact. In 2021, Rosé was also invited to the MET Gala, marking a historical moment for K-Pop. Overall, Rosé flourished like an ace this year and we're here for it!

 

7. AleXa and WOODZ (Tied)

In 2021, AleXa was the very definition of an ace. From making some amazing music and landing iconic collaborations to MCing and performing, AleXa did it all effortlessly.

Embracing a range of genres like silky indie-pop and gritty alt-rock, WOODZ was unbeatable in 2021. The conviction with which he makes music has always been one of his biggest strengths and once again, it has proven to be what sets him apart. If that's not an ace, we don't know what is.

 

8. MONSTA X's I.M 

A chart-topping hitmaker, I.M proved his mettle as a soloist with his debut EP "Duality". Having written all of the songs on the mini-album while also participating in the composition, arrangement, production, and design of the same, I.M's rightful position as an ace became unshakeable. 

 

9. NCT's Mark 

Much like every year, NCT's Mark was tirelessly at work for the entirety of 2021. From NCT DREAM to NCT 127, NCT 2021 to SuperM, Mark had the world on his shoulders but he still looked effortless because he is, after all, an ace.

 

10. HyunA&DAWN (Tied)

The K-Pop industry has never seen a power ace couple quite like this. HyunA and DAWN marked a cultural reset in the world of K-Pop with their joint debut as HyunA&DAWN and they served perfection, to say the least. This is K-Pop at its peak and we cannot help but be obsessed.